AN: Long has it been, my friends. Then again, it always is, isn't it? Sigh That's my fault, for not caring enough. Be warned, readers, that this story will become somewhat darker from here on out…. Not really angsty, mind, just more violent and such. So. Let the long-forgotten tale begin again.
Chapter 7: A Mind LostA glittering landscape stretched out to the horizon. The sparkling sheen of ice enveloped every surface, and the entire lake seemed made of diamond. There was a collective gasp from the heroes, who stopped in awe of the natural splendor before them. Tidus noticed Yuna's expression; the burden she carried had slipped away for just a moment. Her mouth was open slightly, and her eyes shone with wonder. No longer did she seem timid; her awe of the lake surpassed all inhibitions.
She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
Shaking his head slightly to clear his thoughts, Tidus started down the path into the crevasse, beckoning the others to follow. It was not long before they spotted an armored chocobo- and its rider, a knight by the name of Clasko. He glanced up, and smiled upon seeing Tidus.
Kamer stared, not having seen an actual chocobo before- and wondered at the enormity of what she'd been pulled into. It's definitely not a game anymore…I wonder if it ever was one in the first place? Then she blinked, suddenly remembering that it was not a good thing for her to be seen with her companions in human form. She racked her brain for an appropriate disguise, hoping the knight hadn't already seen her- then, she almost laughed out loud as the perfect solution came to her.
Clasko turned to Tidus and grinned. "Hey there!" He sighed. "Look at this, I always get left behind…" His steed squawked, and the knight turned to it. "You want me to scratch you, eh?" The bird leaned into him as he rubbed its head.
Tidus smiled at this, asking, "How'd you know it wanted a scratch?"
Clasko looked up again, grinning. "Chocobos are real easy to read. I've always-" He stopped, staring at something behind Tidus. "Wow, where'd you find her?"
"What?" Tidus glanced back, to spot a second Chocobo strutting up behind him.
He stared.
The second Chocobo chirped, seeming amused, and moved up to examine the armored bird. Clasko's bird moved back a step, eyeing the intruder warily. The second bird drooped a bit, then turned back to Tidus.
"Oh, her? We… um… err…" Tidus struggled for a moment. "We… found her wandering around in the woods! Yeah, that's what happened!" He grinned sheepishly.
Clasko frowned. "That's odd… Chocobos aren't usually seen in forests." It stepped up to him, and he reached out to scratch its neck. "This one's a bit small, but she seems nice enough. Strange, I can't understand her quite so well as the others…"
Yuna smiled gently. "Sir Clasko, it seems like you are very good with these birds."
He blushed. "Thank you very much, Lady Summoner. I've thought about being a chocobo breeder… Maybe I'll give it a try!"
The group said their goodbyes and walked on. As soon as knight and bird were out of sight, the second Chocobo disappeared, leaving a grinning human girl in its place. "That was fun, I should do it again sometime."
Tidus was highly annoyed. "You could have given us some warning, you know!"
Kamer only laughed. "You should have seen your face… You know, Tidus, you're not a very good liar."
"Well- you- but… Oh, shut up."
Lulu, looking ahead, spoke. "If you don't want to be seen with us, now would be the time to do something about it. Tromell is coming this way."
Kamer jumped. "Ah, crap! One second…" Then she was gone- becoming a doglike being so white as to disappear against the ice. Then she jumped onto a ledge, crouching where she could see but not be seen.
The old Guado made his way up to the guardians. "Ah, milady. I apologize; we were not expecting you so soon. Lord Seymour would not have left, had he known…"
Yuna bowed. "It's not a problem. Could I… ask a question?"
"Of course, milady."
"I would like to continue on the path of a summoner… continue my pilgrimage, after my marriage. Do you think Lord Seymour would allow it?"
Tidus glanced at her in surprise. He had thought she would want to stay with her husband- oh, he hated that word; husband- but now, he realized that thought was silly. Yuna would never give up on her duty as a summoner.
"He would want nothing else, I assure you."
Yuna turned away from Tromell for a moment, nodding to her guardians- and flicking her eyes toward the ridge where a white dog knelt. "Well, goodbye for now…"
"What!?" Tidus jumped, surprised. "You're not going to Seymour without us, are you?"
Tromell put a hand on Yuna's arm. "It is Guado tradition… We must follow custom, after all…"
"But-" Tidus sputtered, obviously reluctant to leave Yuna without guardians.
"You must wait here for a while… I will send someone to escort you later." Tromell steered the summoner away, down the path.
Tidus suppressed the urge to whistle. This is what she wants… I can't stop her, even if I want to desperately. A surge of hope rose as she hesitated, turned around- but it died as Auron assured her that her guardians were all behind her. Tidus almost didn't notice when Auron spoke to him.
"Sorry."
Tidus looked at him. "Huh?"
"Your line, not mine."
"Oh… yeah, I suppose…" Finally, he could resist no longer- he ran forward and whistled, as loudly as he could.
Yuna spun, and nodded sharply. "Yes sir!" Then she turned away again.
He grimaced slightly. So this is it… At least she understands…
Tidus was once again startled, as Rikku cried, "Oh no!"
Wakka growled, "Al Bhed!" with hatred in his tone; Rikku winced slightly at this. However, more pressing problems were at hand, as several snowmobiles surrounded Yuna in the distance. The guardians ran for their charge, and quickly reached the pair.
Auron placed a hand on his blade. "Stand back," he warned Tromell and Yuna.
Tromell nodded, and gripped Yuna's arm. "Thank you. Let us go!" He was shocked when the girl tore away from him and went to stand with the others. "Lady Yuna!" he cried, but she did not heed him.
The Al Bhed surrounding them were prepared to attack, but suddenly lowered their weapons and made way for a man with a Mohawk, covered in tattoos. He stood upon an icy crest, shouting at the companions. "Rikku!"
Rikku looked up, plainly surprised to see him, but did not respond. He continued to speak in his strange language. " Don't get in our way, or we'll use this! " A giant, metallic cannon rolled up next to him. " We have sealed your magic! And your precious Aeons cannot help you now! " The man laughed at them.
"Oh, shit…" Rikku was plainly worried.
"What'd he say?" Tidus was nervous about this.
"He's going to use an anti-magic field- we won't be able to fight nearly as well!"
The Al Bhed leader swept his arm down. " Get them! "
"Not good…" Tidus drew his blade.
And so, the battle began- the companions dodging blasts from the cannon, and the male Guardians hacking at bits of exposed machinery. Amid the flashes and roaring of the battle, none noticed as a white blur swept up toward the hill.
Finally, Tidus stabbed one last time and leapt back, as the engine of the machine exploded. Panting, he turned back to the others, to see Tromell grab Yuna's arm. "We must go, my lady!" called the old Guado, and she nodded and resumed the walk toward the temple.
The man on the hill was quite angry, and opened his mouth to say something more- but screamed instead as he was tackled bodily. A white, four-legged beast stood over him, snarling with teeth bared. He struggled, but was unable to move.
Kamer growled menacingly. She could so easily tear out his throat! Voices called to her, but she ignored them. She wanted so desperately to kill this man, to watch his blood spill out onto the snow… It would take so little effort, so why hadn't she slain him yet? What was holding her back? Thoughts swirled about in her head, but she could not catch hold of them- all she understood was her desire to slay the man beneath her. He had threatened her friends…
My… friends… That thought anchored in her mind, and finally she heard the shouting behind her. All her friends were shouting at her, asking her to… stop? Rikku was screaming, calling out one word…
"BROTHER!!!" The girl was terrified, anxious… Kamer didn't understand. Why would they want her to not kill this enemy?
She looked down at the man, and he started to speak in his own language. " Don't, get off me!! " She snarled viciously, and he quieted. Kamer was so confused… Then, finally, the sobs of the green-eyed girl reached her, and reason returned. What am I doing? She moved off the man, allowing him to stand. He did so, crying, " Rikku, you are on your own in this! I shall tell Father! " With that, he turned and ran.
Kamer sat as a human, curled into herself. What happened? Why was I… I wanted to kill him, wanted to see him bleed… I don't understand… What's happening to me? She was currently unaware of the argument going on below her, between a redhead blitzer and an Al Bhed.
"What? You speak Al Bhed? And why were you screaming at that man?" Wakka was clearly angry.
"Because… he is my brother, and I am Al Bhed…" Rikku could not meet his gaze.
"All this time, and nobody told me?! I can't believe I've been traveling with a heathen!" In his anger, Wakka did not see the hurt that flickered across Rikku's face.
"No, that's not true… We don't hate Yevon…"
"It was the machina you use that created Sin!"
Now, Rikku became angry. "Show me proof of that!"
"Yevon told us! But you wouldn't know that!" They were both shouting now.
"Oh, always listening to Yevon's words! Can't you think on your own?! Nothing will ever change like that!"
"Nothing has to! Things are fine this way!"
Rikku sputtered, almost too angry for words. "FINE?! There might be a way to stop Sin, but you don't even care!"
"Sin will go once we atone for our sins!"
"Argh! I don't know why I bother with you!!!" Rikku stalked away, to help Auron with a snowmobile. Wakka stared after her angrily, but then Tidus said something quietly and Wakka turned back to him. A softer conversation ensued, with Tidus trying to calm Wakka down. Meanwhile, Lulu reached the top of the hill, where Kamer sat. She looked down at the shape shifter.
"Get up." That was all she said, but it was enough. Kamer looked up, shook her head, and unfolded herself. Then the two walked back toward the snowmobiles.
Rikku and the others had managed to salvage four. Auron, Tidus, Kimahri and Wakka each seated themselves on one, Wakka grumbling all the way. Rikku got on behind Auron and Lulu walked over to Tidus' snowmobile. They looked back at Kamer, standing alone on the ice. No one said anything.
Kamer looked down, and sighed. "I understand. You guys go, I can catch up. Meet you at the temple…" The others nodded, and started the mobiles. Kamer turned away, and they were gone in a rush of snow.
She was alone now. Kamer looked up in the direction of the temple, thinking. Finally, a great cat leapt from where she had stood, and started to run along the ledges of ice. Soon, she was out of sight.
All that remained in that place were the silent husks of broken machines, and a small red stain on the top of a hill.